Devastating photos from Hawaii's volcanic eruption

1 of 19

May 9, 2018

An ash plume rises from the Halemaumau crater within the Kilauea volcano summit caldera at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

2 of 19

May 9, 2018

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park visitors watch as an ash plume rises from the Halemaumau crater on Wednesday. Most of the national park will close on Friday, May 11 to visitors, "due to the possibility of an explosive steam event and ash fall at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano."

3 of 19

May 9, 2018

The Halemaumau crater is illuminated by the crater's lava lake at night. The recent lowering of the lava lake at the crater "has raised the potential for explosive eruptions," USGS says.

Lava cools in one part of the Leilani Estates neighborhood, while fissures continue to open in other parts of the subdivision.

7 of 19

May 8, 2018

Fumes rise from a fissure in a road in Leilani Estates. When the sulfur dioxide from these vents mix with sunlight and oxygen it forms a type of volcanic smog called "vog," which can cause pneumonia and bronchitis-like symptoms.

8 of 19

May 8, 2018

U.S. Army National Guard First Lt. Aaron Hew Len measures sulfur dioxide gas levels in the Leilani Estates neighborhood.

Advertisement

9 of 19

May 7, 2018

Leilani Estates resident, Stacy Welch, inspects a home destroyed by lava just 250-feet from her home, which remains standing.

10 of 19

May 6, 2018

Lava from a fissure in Kilauea's east rift zone consumes a home. So far, the total number of homes lost in the Leilan Estates neighborhood is 26, but geologists from the Hawaii Volcanoes Observatory don't expect the eruption to end soon.

PHOTO: BRUCE OMORI/PARADISE HELICOPTERS/EPA-EFE/REX

11 of 19

May 6, 2018

Another fissure erupts on Kilauea's east rift zone, sending lava 200 feet into the air.

PHOTO: BRUCE OMORI/PARADISE HELICOPTERS/EPA-EFE/REX

12 of 19

May 6, 2018

An aerial view of the advancing lava flow erupting from volcanic fissures overtaking trees and houses in the Leilani Estates.

An ash plume rises from the Halemaumau crater within the Kilauea volcano summit caldera at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

May 9, 2018

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park visitors watch as an ash plume rises from the Halemaumau crater on Wednesday. Most of the national park will close on Friday, May 11 to visitors, "due to the possibility of an explosive steam event and ash fall at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano."

May 9, 2018

The Halemaumau crater is illuminated by the crater's lava lake at night. The recent lowering of the lava lake at the crater "has raised the potential for explosive eruptions," USGS says.

Lava cools in one part of the Leilani Estates neighborhood, while fissures continue to open in other parts of the subdivision.

May 8, 2018

Fumes rise from a fissure in a road in Leilani Estates. When the sulfur dioxide from these vents mix with sunlight and oxygen it forms a type of volcanic smog called "vog," which can cause pneumonia and bronchitis-like symptoms.

May 8, 2018

U.S. Army National Guard First Lt. Aaron Hew Len measures sulfur dioxide gas levels in the Leilani Estates neighborhood.

May 7, 2018

Leilani Estates resident, Stacy Welch, inspects a home destroyed by lava just 250-feet from her home, which remains standing.

May 6, 2018

Lava from a fissure in Kilauea's east rift zone consumes a home. So far, the total number of homes lost in the Leilan Estates neighborhood is 26, but geologists from the Hawaii Volcanoes Observatory don't expect the eruption to end soon.

PHOTO: BRUCE OMORI/PARADISE HELICOPTERS/EPA-EFE/REX

May 6, 2018

Another fissure erupts on Kilauea's east rift zone, sending lava 200 feet into the air.

PHOTO: BRUCE OMORI/PARADISE HELICOPTERS/EPA-EFE/REX

May 6, 2018

An aerial view of the advancing lava flow erupting from volcanic fissures overtaking trees and houses in the Leilani Estates.

An ash plume rises from the Halemaumau crater within the Kilauea volcano summit caldera at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

May 9, 2018

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park visitors watch as an ash plume rises from the Halemaumau crater on Wednesday. Most of the national park will close on Friday, May 11 to visitors, "due to the possibility of an explosive steam event and ash fall at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano."

May 9, 2018

The Halemaumau crater is illuminated by the crater's lava lake at night. The recent lowering of the lava lake at the crater "has raised the potential for explosive eruptions," USGS says.

Lava cools in one part of the Leilani Estates neighborhood, while fissures continue to open in other parts of the subdivision.

May 8, 2018

Fumes rise from a fissure in a road in Leilani Estates. When the sulfur dioxide from these vents mix with sunlight and oxygen it forms a type of volcanic smog called "vog," which can cause pneumonia and bronchitis-like symptoms.

May 8, 2018

U.S. Army National Guard First Lt. Aaron Hew Len measures sulfur dioxide gas levels in the Leilani Estates neighborhood.

May 7, 2018

Leilani Estates resident, Stacy Welch, inspects a home destroyed by lava just 250-feet from her home, which remains standing.

May 6, 2018

Lava from a fissure in Kilauea's east rift zone consumes a home. So far, the total number of homes lost in the Leilan Estates neighborhood is 26, but geologists from the Hawaii Volcanoes Observatory don't expect the eruption to end soon.

PHOTO: BRUCE OMORI/PARADISE HELICOPTERS/EPA-EFE/REX

May 6, 2018

Another fissure erupts on Kilauea's east rift zone, sending lava 200 feet into the air.

PHOTO: BRUCE OMORI/PARADISE HELICOPTERS/EPA-EFE/REX

May 6, 2018

An aerial view of the advancing lava flow erupting from volcanic fissures overtaking trees and houses in the Leilani Estates.

Since Hawaii's Kilauea erupted Thursday, May 3, 15 fissure vents have opened on the volcano's East Rift Zone in the Leilani Estates and Lanipuna Gardens subdivisions, destroying 36 structures — including 26 homes — and forcing about 2,000 local residents to evacuate the dangerous lava flows and toxic sulfur dioxide fumes that have consumed the neighborhoods.

The eruption is far from over, either. Over the next few weeks, the USGS predicts that explosive "steam-driven eruptions" will throw "ballistic projectiles" over six-feet wide more than half a mile from the crater vent. Scientists say that the current conditions at the volcano resemble those before Kilauea's major eruption in 1924, which threw boulders weighing up to 14 tons from the crater , killing one person and sending ash and dust into the air for nearly three weeks.